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Good letter writing techniques are as important to your job search as an
effective résumé. Cover letters are often the first thing employers read
and use to obtain a first impression of you. Use your cover letter to
sell your unique abilities and to highlight a few outstanding and
relevant accomplishments. There are some fundamental rules to remember.
All letters should be:
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• Addressed to a specific person. Do not use "Dear Sir or
Madam"
• Targeted to a specific career field and/or position
• Typed (or laser printed) individually and signed
• Free of any spelling or grammatical errors
• No more than one page long
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As you progress through different stages of your job search, you may find
yourself writing several types of letters including the following:
Cover Letter
(view
sample)
This is usually the first correspondence you have with a potential employer
and it should always be accompanied by your résumé . You should identify your
career objective and refer to the attached résumé .
• Cover Letter Workshop
Thank You Letter
(view
sample)
Thank-you letters may be written for a variety of reasons. They should
always be written after a job interview and mailed within 2 business days.
They should also be written after informational interviews. This should be
done even if you have telephoned and thanked the person for their time or
said thank-you before leaving the interview.
Thank-you letters should be brief and acknowledge the person for their
time and information. You may want to briefly restate a particular
strength or attempt to correct something you perceived was missing in the
interview. The point is to be brief, acknowledge the time spent or
information given and leave a good impression.
Acceptance Letter
(view
sample)
At this point, you are a member of the organization and your letter should
reflect your professional self. You should, however, remember some basic
elements of the acceptance letter. First, refer to the offer letter outlining
the terms of employment. Second, confirm your starting date. Third, express
your appreciation and pleasure at joining the organization.
Rejection Letter
(view
sample)
The primary objective of the rejection letter is to avoid burning any
bridges. It is possible that you may wish to contact this employer in the
future. Therefore, always be positive and gracious in rejecting the offer.
Be sure to express appreciation for the consideration.
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